Effects of balance training with and without gaze stabilization exercises on clinical outcomes in elderly patients with chronic dizziness: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effects of balance training with and without Gaze Stabilization exercises on clinical outcomes in elderly patient with chronic dizziness.

Method: Total 64 participants after referral from neurologist at Lahore General Hospital were recruited in this study. These participants were randomly assigned into two groups i.e. Group A (Gaze group) and Group B (control group) with 32 participants in each group by sealed envelope method. Gaze group performed balance exercises with gaze stability exercise whereas, group B performed balance exercises with saccade eye exercises. Berg Balance Scale, Disability Handicapped Inventory, and Activity Specific Balance Confidence Scale were used to measure outcome variables.

Results: Demographic variables were represented by mean, standard deviation and frequency distribution. Results showed that there was no baseline difference between gaze and control group (p > 0.05). Both groups showed improved results with the gaze group showing significantly more improvement as compare to the control group on balance (p < 0.05, Mean Group A = 44.1, Mean group B = 40.91), perceived disability (p < 0.05, Mean Group A = 52.84, Group B = 56.09), and risk of fall (p < 0.05, Mean Group A = 53.84, Mean Group B = 50.72) respectively.

Conclusion: This study concluded that gaze stability exercises with balance training are effective in improving balance, level of perceived disability, and risk of fall prevention among elderly patients with chronic dizziness.

Keywords: Balance training (BT); Berg balance scale (BBG) and activity specific balance confidence (ABC); Gaze stability exercises (GSE).